Exposure therapy for fears and phobias may only have a 50% success rate because fear memories outlast competing safety memories learned from therapy. Researchers investigate the genesis of fear memories and have developed a new mathematical model to help strengthen exposure therapies.
Constant exposure to images of syringes and people getting the COVID-19 vaccine on TV and social media may discourage those with phobias of needles from getting their shots, researchers report.
Children who were admitted to NICUs as babies are twice as likely to be diagnosed with mental health problems, including ADHD, phobias, and separation anxiety.
Using fear as a political platform has created a resurgence in feelings of tribalism. The utilization of fear as a political tool is uninformed, illogical and can result in increased social violence. A new study looks at the impact of the politics of fear on tribalism.
Study reports people with insect phobias reported a 20% reduction in symptoms following seven-seconds of exposure to the superhero movies Spiderman and Antman.
Researchers report fear extinction memories form as a result of an adenosine modification, which help to increase the activity of specific genes.
Researchers report children on the autism spectrum who experience specific phobias may benefit from immersive virtual reality therapy. The study reports immersive VR helped almost 45% of children with ASD remain free from their phobias six months after treatment.
Researchers say phobias can be treated more effectively by linking computerized therapy to the rhythm of a person's heart.
Stress reactions are evoked in infants when they see snakes and spiders, even if they have never encountered them before. Based on this knowledge, researchers propose phobias of snakes and spiders are of evolutionary origin.
A new study could provide hope for people with phobias.
Combining artificial intelligence and neuroimaging, researchers have devised a way of unconsciously removing a fear memory from the brain.
According to a new study, several anxiety disorders share a common underlying trait; a fear of the unknown.